Method of combining existing chemical processes to produce hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract

A method for producing hydrocarbon fuels from environmentally friendly non-petroleum based sources using existing chemical reactions is disclosed. In this method, air is passed through a reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture to produce carbon dioxide. The reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture, a Sabatier reactor, a partial oxidation reactor and a Fischer-Tropsch reactor are in thermal contact with each other. Heat derived from the exothermic reactions is used to release carbon dioxide from the amine-carbon dioxide mixture. The resulting hydrocarbon fuel products are separated from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor and sold.

1. A method for producing hydrocarbon fuels from environmentally friendly non-petroleum based sources, comprising:
 a) blowing air through a solution to absorb carbon dioxide from the air; 
 b) producing hydrogen and oxygen; 
 c) passing the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to a Sabatier reactor to produce methane and water; 
 d) condensing the water from the methane; 
 e) combining the oxygen and methane in a partial oxidation reactor to yield syngas; and 
 f) supplying the syngas to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon fuels;
 wherein at least one of the Sabatier reactor, the partial oxidation reactor, and the Fischer-Tropsch reactor are in thermal contact with the solution such that at least some of the heat released by the exothermic reactions liberates carbon dioxide from the solution. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the solution is an amine and the amine absorbs carbon dioxide from the air to form an amine and carbon dioxide mixture. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the carbon dioxide is released on heating the amine and carbon dioxide mixture. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein after releasing the carbon dioxide from the solution, the solution may be reused to absorb the carbon dioxide from the air. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one exothermic reaction takes place in the Sabatier reactor, the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, and partial oxidation reactor. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the exothermic reaction may be a Sabatier reaction, a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and a partial oxidation reaction are exothermic. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the water condensed from the methane is piped to an electrolyzer to yield hydrogen and oxygen. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxygen used in the partial oxidation reactor is obtained by electrolysis of water. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrogen used in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor and Sabatier reactor is obtained from an electrolyzer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein the syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein heat from at least one of the Sabatier reaction, the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and partial oxidation reaction may also be used to heat the solution to liberate the carbon dioxide. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon fuels are separated from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the produced hydrocarbon fuels have a closed carbon cycle. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the hydrocarbon fuel may be least one of jet fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, dimethylether, naphtha or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein the air comprises exhaust gases. 
     
     
       16. A method for producing hydrocarbon fuels, comprising:
 a) blowing air through a solution to absorb carbon dioxide from the air; 
 b) producing hydrogen and oxygen; 
 c) passing the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to a Sabatier reactor to produce methane and water; 
 d) condensing the water from the methane; 
 e) combining the oxygen and methane in a partial oxidation reactor to yield syngas; and 
 f) supplying the syngas to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon fuels;
 wherein at least one of the Sabatier reactor, the partial oxidation reactor, and the Fischer-Tropsch reactor are geometrically arranged such that at least some of the heat released by the exothermic reactions transfers naturally by heat conduction through system boundaries and liberates carbon dioxide from the solution.